US Homeland Security and food defense

FDA and food safety

Our work on food safety naturally overlaps with that of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We collaborate with the nearby CFSAN lab in Alameda on detection of bacterial contamination in food.

FSIS and Ceftiofur

Upon a request from the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA, we recently developed an improved assay for residues of Ceftiofur, a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic used in beef production. This technology is now routinely employed by FSIS for monitoring of this regulated drug.

Neogen and assays

Under a Material Transfer Agreement, Neogen Corporation (Lansing, MI) is using antibodies developed by FCR scientists for evaluation in imunoassays for detection of specific contaminants in food.

Agdia, Inc., and Bowman-Birk Inhibitor

Immunoassay technology for Bowman-Birk Inhibitor, a naturally-occurring anti-nutritional component of soybeans, has been patented and licensed to Agdia, an immunodiagnostics manufacturer.